Well maybe this is why Haley’s gameplan is how it is. Ben is immobile so try to morph him into Kurt Warner. All I can say is if he is THAT immobile then: 1) Ben just lost his greatest strength of throwing on the run. And 2) If he can’t even Ben mobile enough to play-action when needed at spots in games then get rid of him. He is still able to execute in play-action though so run the ball and return Ben’s game back to a Whis-level and have him throw off play-action when needed. Bottom line - how awkward does he look trying to be Kurt Warner and read defenses and operate with 4 wide out of a shotgun??? And please nobody reference the few games that were exceptions when he put 6 TDS on the board.
Just a gut feeling... I think the offense is going to go off this week. I think Ben lights it up and M. Bryant does also. I know all of what has been stated on here prior is correct and there is a problem. I'm probably wrong, but just a gut feeling. Ben throws for 4 tds, 350 yds and Bell does most of his damage receiving. And no... I have no stats, no arguing points, just a gut feeling.
I could see it. It's not like he turned into Mike Glennon overnight. Just not a guy that I believe will consistently play well anymore.
On Ben's mobility: I have given this some thought, because I read the same site you do Beach and saw this statement from Matt Steel last week when he posted it. I don't believe its a lack of preparation with Ben so much as an accumulation of injuries that have hindered him. Think about the abuse he has taken during his career. The other QBs he talks about, Smith, Rodgers, etc, have never taken the beating that Ben has taken. All the knee injuries, all the foot injuries. Is it any surprise that Ben is reluctant to move like he used to? From all I've read, Ben has taken his health very seriously the past couple of years. Hiring a nutritionist, working with a trainer, etc. I think he's just accumulated too many problems derived from injuries and surgeries over the years. As for the questions about his vision, or passing on open receivers for more difficult throws...that's just Ben. Its ALWAYS been Ben. Its ALWAYS been frustrating. When the Steelers are winning we all kinda ignore it and pretend it isn't happening, but its still there. He's not going to change that part of his game apparently and its what really needed to change as he aged and stopped being able to move and avoid the rush. If he can't buy the extra time and make teams respect his legs a bit, he absolutely MUST make the correct reads and throw the ball to the open receivers. If he can't make that adjustment, he just shouldn't be the QB of this team anymore.
This is exactly what Tunch and Wolf were preaching before the Jaguars game...not all forecasts are perfect. It all speaks to poor physical and mental preparation, which is unacceptable
Right in front of his face. Again........given down/distance and your location of the field, Ben's first thought should be that a conversion here likely ensures SOME points and makes it a two-TD difference. You have to convert. And the easy play materializes right in front of him two seconds after the ball snaps. It doesn't get any easier.
Why should Ben move around? He really gets very excellent pass protection, he just doesn't use the protection to his advantage.
Lots of insight here... http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21240450 Can't be good for the offense when the QB runs out of the locker room every Friday to play golf.
Very interesting read. I don't think anyone has ever confused Ben with Manning or Brady when it comes to dedication to his craft. He has lived on his physical talent alone for 14 years and unfortunately his physical talent is starting to wain.
I don't think Ben could ever put in the work to actually be able to know what defenses will do on the field. He just isn't the studious type. Physical talent doesn't last forever.
This article annoys me quite a bit. I put family first too and if it came to the point where my job interfered with family I'd move on to another workplace. If Ben wants to play the family first card, that's fine but if you sign up for another year, then give it all you've got. He's only short changing a locker room full of players and anybody else who might have a vested interest in the team. Brady, Brees, and many other players are family men too and manage to give all they've got. Ben needs to fish or cut bait. Don't waste the Steeler's time.
The family first thing is such B.S. AB has 5 kids at home and he's known for putting in the extra time and work. You know why? Because these guys practice two hours a day. It's not hard to spend a little extra time working on your craft or studying film. It might extend your day to 4-5 hours. Oh the horror! And as reported Ben isn't running out of the locker room on Fridays to be with family. He's running out to play golf. There isn't enough time in the off-season for golf? If you read this article closely it basically says what many of us have said... bad teammate.
This article made me want to reminisce about Ben's best career moments, but I might do that after he retires. I don't give one iota about Ben as a person. My loyalty is with the Steelers. Ben did not play great against the Lions, so if the Lions had scored one single touchdown on any of their five red zone trips, we might be talking about a different game. The Lions were heavily focused on stopping Le'Veon Bell, and why not? They have faith in their secondary. Ben made some good throws here and there (TD pass to JuJu), but more than enough bad ones (miss on a wide-open Heyward-Bey, throwing it to triple-covered AB come hell or high water). If any team wants to beat the Steelers from now on, they'll do exactly what the Lions did. We won't be able to hold every team we face to 0-5 in the red zone. Ben had more yards than at any point in this season but a low completion percentage. I'm happy about this upcoming bye week, though if the article is any indication Ben may just use it as an excuse to go to Hilton Head. Can't wait to see this tub of lard call it a career.
Everyone remembers the Heyward-Bey throw. The throw about 3 plays later to Antonio was just as bad if not worse. AB runs a perfect skinny posting stemming to the outside and cutting back to the center of the field. He's wide open and Ben throws it at his feet. I'd GIF it but I'm not at home.
I appreciate your effort showing all of Ben's mistakes since I know this takes a lot of time. Thanks you and I believe you are spot on. Can you however, show a specific play where Ben makes a great decision after looking off a couple of receivers to make an excellent throw (decision) to another. I have seen the bad but there has to be some good tape on Ben! You have seen every snap. At 6-2, I would like to think he is not totally incompetent THIS year. I am worried about his QB play but I find it unrealistic that Dobbs can bring a championship to Pittsburgh this season! Thanks again, JMac
I've seen a couple of times but it really has been few and far between. Off the top of my head I would say Ben has thrown to his first read at least 80% of the time. I have yet to see him read more than half the field. I'm not going to go back and look but the next time I see it I'll put it out there.
Pictures are a lot quicker than GIFs. This is the interception. We are one play out of FG territory and it's 1st down. Just no reason to force this thing in to triple coverage. If he comes off that read and looks to the other side of the field he has an easy 10 yards or more.
beach, this just makes me sick ... his decision making, or lack of it makes the team half as good as they really are ... in your pic above, he had another first down all alone on the 43 (red square), easily had a back shoulder (as you show) for another first down to move the chains again, if he pumps to the receiver with (defender has back to Ben) it would have attracted or frozen the safety and whoever is receiver on same 35 yard line but closer to hash has a step on defender and might get home with a leading pass. Holy crap... all that on one play... how many times has this happened in the fullness of an entire game ... we may very well be a 30+ point per game offense if someone else is at the helm...
Like I said, 80% of the time he's throwing to his first read and often with a very clean pocket. I just don't know what happened to the guy. I remember him driving me nuts holding the ball looking for an open guy and taking sacks. Now it's the polar opposite. Not fun to watch. I only got through about 2 1/2 quarters of this game and I just couldn't watch anymore. EDIT: 2 1/2 quarters in review. Watched the whole game live.
